Hospital kitchen gets facelift!
Diagnosis calls for Rational ClimaPlus natural gas combi ovens

Forty-year-old electric cooking equipment at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia was beginning to show its age. Past its prime, it couldn't keep pace with the demands of this growing, 129-bed hospital.

So the "doctor" prescribed major surgery, and Ridgeview's busy foodservice operation now has a new lease on life.

Natural gas is good medicine. "We converted our entire line to natural gas last December," explained Trisha Ohlsen-Joseph, director, Nutrition and Materials Services. "At the center are our two Rational ClimaPlus natural gas combi ovens."

This high volume foodservice team prepares up to 14,000 meal equivalents per month for patients, staff and visitors. Efficiency is critical and their new Rational combi ovens deliver. " We've completely reshaped the way we prepare our meals," Ohlsen-Joseph said. "These are our cooks' favorite ovens."

Easy, programmable operation. The staff has embraced the new technology and quickly mastered its capabilities. "These combi ovens are so easy to operate that our cooks were using them before receiving training," she noted. The programmed cooking and controlled air flow also require fewer hands-on techniques while producing better, more consistent results.

Fast, nutritious output. "The instant heat and precise temperature control of natural gas are a real plus," Ohlsen-Joseph added. "Product quality and food safety are important, especially in a hospital. We can trust our food will be fully cooked, without being overdone and dry, in far less time."

Quick cleanup. The built-in, self-cleaning wash arm is another time-saver. "Cleanliness is especially important. We just set the oven to clean every evening and then go home. We never have a dirty oven," she emphasized.

The overall prognosis? "I love the efficiency and cost savings of natural gas," Ohlsen-Joseph added. "And the money-saving rebates and training from CenterPoint Energy were extremely beneficial." All in all, this kitchen facelift is just what the doctor ordered.